“We Will Not Forget”: How Lebanese Creatives Are Remembering The Beirut Blast
Social media reflects on the past and looks forward in hopes for a better future
Today, the Lebanese community is grieving.
In fact, for the most part, August 4th will never get easier as it marks the two-year anniversary since the Beirut port blast. Lebanon’s people remain bruised beyond belief, but, brave-faced, they carry on— it’s what they do best.
Lebanon. It’s the ‘Paris of the Middle East’, the region’s party capital and home to all things zaatar or ‘kifek, ça va?‘ It’s a country peppered with old bravado and young vigour amidst a backdrop of belly laughs and honking cars. With one of the most spirited populations in the world, it knows what it means to be resilient and, better yet, have a good-time while doing it.
Thus, in a bid to unite, inspire and empower Beirutis around the world, Bazaar Arabia garners the ways in which Lebanese creatives are healing. From the fashion industry’s finest to restaurateurs to artists from all walks of life, we share how twelve of the country’s most talented remember the tragedy that was the Beirut Blast, two years later…
Nancy Ajram
من سنتين لهلق ٤ آب مش مجرد تاريخ…
٤ آب جرح بقلب كل لبناني عم ينزف وبعمره ما بيطيب قبل ما العدالة تتحقق.
العدالة لكل روح انخطفت عغفلة
وكل دمعة إم نزلت بدون إذن
وكل حسرة وحرقة قلب انفرضت على مدنيين ذنبن إنن أبرياء.
ونحنا ناطرين العدالة!
ومن هلق لوقتها #لن_ننسى— Nancy Ajram (@NancyAjram) August 4, 2022
In a heartfelt, emotive message shared to her Twitter and Instagram accounts, Lebanese megastar Nancy Ajram took to social media to describe her anguish, injustice and heartbreak over the destruction which took place on August 4th, 2020. Powerfully ending her tweet with “#لن_ننسى“— translating to ‘we will not forget’— the Sah Sah singer reminded fans that despite time having passed, they are still owed justice.
Sarah’s Bag
Lebanese social enterprise and infamous bag designer Sarah’s Bags took to their Instagram to share the explosion’s devastation on their atelier. In a story capturing the CCTV footage seconds before the blast, they captioned “Usually this space is buzzing with creative energy/ On that day we left work for an hour before the blast/ We were lucky.”
Em Sherif Cafe
In a video shared to their Instagram page, world-renowned Lebanese restaurant Em Sherif pledged the city a deed both generous and selfless, promising diners that “This August 4, Em Sherif is open for a purpose. All the proceeds from Em Sherif Restaurant, Café and Sea Café will be donated to the heroes of the Beirut Fire Brigade.”
Yasmina Zaytoun
Miss Lebanon 2022 Winner Yasmine Zaytoun took to Instagram to express her sadness, writing in an Instagram story “We Will Never Forgot” followed by the date that marks two years since the port’s explosion.
Sandra Mansour
Swiss-born, Lebanese fashion designer Sandra Mansour flocked to her Instagram story to share an image of Lebanon at sunset, captioning it “Victims & survivors of Beirut’s blast will forever be in our hearts,” followed by a praying emoticon.
Zuhair Murad
Testament to the creative hive buzzing in Lebanon, Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad is redefining what it means to do retail right; in a collaboration between newspaper AlNahar and the designer, Murad will embark on a mission to #redresslebanon by turning the mesh that covered most of the buildings’ wreckage into a dress and consequently sell 10452 NFTs of said dress. As pledged, all proceeds will be donated to victims of the blast in support of them and their families.
Saleh Barakat
Lebanese gallerist and curator Saleh Barakat shared an image of himself in his downtown Beirut gallery, captioning the image “WE WILL NEVER FORGET.” Pictured in front of Lebanese-Palestinian artist Abdul Rahmab Katanani’s ‘The Wave’ installation, Barakat paid tribute to the late gallery worker Firas Dahwish who sadly passed away from complications caused by injuries sustained in the blast.
Georges Hobeika
Lebanese Haute Couture and Ready-to-Wear designer Georges Hobeika posted a black and white Instagram story as tribute to the city of Beirut and all that it has endured. Writing, “an homage to our brave, beautiful Beirut,” the story serves as a moment of commemoration, empowerment and reflection as viewers are reminded of the city’s magnificent skyline.
Myriam Fares
In a powerful Instagram story Lebanese singer, actress and entertainer Myriam Fares captured the hearts and minds of her followers in reference to the ‘#beirut_port_explosion.’ Pleading for truth, Myriam wrote an emotive paragraph to describe the current void left in the city, with individuals being left orphaned and widowed.
Cyrine Abdelnour
ما في ابشع من الظلم ولا اقسى من انتظار الحقيقة تظهر
سنتين قطعوا وبعدنا ناطرين ورح ننطر كل العمر وما رح ننسى (مين يلي اغتالنا مين يلي دمر بيروت مين عم بهجرنا ؟)
فَلَيْسَ مَكْتُومٌ لَنْ يُسْتَعْلَنَ، وَلَا خَفِيٌّ لَنْ يُعْرَفَ. #انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت #لن_ننسي #4_اب #سيرين_عبدالنور— Cyrine Abdelnour (@CyrineAbdlNour) August 4, 2022
Taking to Twitter to externalize her inner monologue, Lebanese singer Cyrine Abdelnour wrote to fans about the devastation left both physically and emotionally to the city of Beirut. Also hashtagging #wewillnotforget, Cyrine’s sadness resonates with many both in the country and across the world.
Najwa Karam
مش رح ننسى #٤_آب ..
الله يرحم الضحايا والشهداء يللي غادرونا على غفلة وأخدوا معن قلوبنا..
ومندعي حتى أرواح قدّيسينّا ترفرف فوق سما هالبلد… ويحفظوه من كلّ شرّ ??#انفجار_بيروت #لبنان— Najwa Karam (@najwakaram) August 4, 2022
Yearning for a bountiful, hopeful future, Lebanese singer Najwa Karam expressed her prayers on Twitter in respect to those who lost their lives on August 4th, 2020. As she vowed to not forget, she also prayed for the souls of those taken by the explosion.
Joumana Dagher
Eclectic Lebanese bag designer Joumana Dagher shared an image with her followers on Thursday in an elegy to those who lost their lives. Writing, “To the memory of all the victims of the port of Beirut August 4 2020/ God Bless Their Souls,” the creative also featured an image of a candle adorned by a Lebanese flag in commemoration of the event’s tragedy.
Lead Image Courtesy Instagram/ @nathaliefanj